Abstract: A rack slide panel for use in a storage cabinet including a planar wall, and first and second side walls extending from the planar wall substantially perpendicular to the planar wall. First and second end walls extend from the first and second side walls. The first and second end walls are substantially perpendicular to the first and second side walls. A plurality of notches are formed in the planar wall, which include a first set of notches and a second set of notches, wherein the first set of notches has a different configuration than the second set of notches to receive drawer rails for supporting a drawer.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electric box which can facilitate a connecting operation of electric-box-side coupler and lead-wire-side coupler while suppressing attachment of dust or the like to connecting portions between the couplers. In the electric box, electric components are stored in an outer case, the electric box is connected to external lead wires, the electric box includes the electric-box-side coupler detachably connected to the lead-wire-side coupler attached to distal end of the lead wire, and a coupler receiving portion constituted in the outer case, the electric-box-side coupler selectively has a received state in which the coupler is positioned in the coupler receiving portion and an exposed state in which the couplers are exposed from the coupler receiving portion, and the electric-box-side coupler and the lead-wire-side coupler connected to the electric-box-side coupler are detachably received in the coupler receiving portion in the received state.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a frontal opening. A door assembly is pivotally mounted across the frontal opening of the cabinet to provide access to food items stored therein. The door assembly includes a door pan having a front face portion, as well as a top panel portion, a bottom panel portion and opposing side panel portions that establish a plurality of corners. A bracket is affixed each of the plurality of corners to provide support for the door pan, with each bracket being clinched at a plurality of locations to secure the bracket in place. By affixing the bracket through clinching, the need for a subsequent finishing step is eliminated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a door-basket structure adapted to be inserted in a refrigerator, including a basket body installed slidably in a fore and aft direction at a rear surface of a door and having an upper surface in the form of a rack horizontally extended, the basket body adapted to store foodstuffs therein, a basket cover pivotably installed at an upper portion of the basket body so as to selectively open and close the interior of the basket body, the basket cover having a lower surface in the form of a pinion. The rack is adapted to interlock continuously with the pinion at every moment to allow the basket cover to be opened and closed in cooperation with movement of the basket body.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a mounting structure capable of easily and conveniently achieving the mounting process for elements to be installed in an inner case. The refrigerator includes a first body including an inner case, an outer case, and a urethane foam filled between the inner case and the outer case, a coupling hole formed through the inner case, a mounting member coupled to the coupling hole at a first outside of the inner case by a first end of the mounting member and provided with a fastening hole, the mounting member being fixed between the inner case and the outer case by the urethane foam when the urethane foam is filled, and a fastening member fastened to the fastening hole at a first inside of the inner case.

Abstract: A heat sink for a light emitting diode includes a light emitting diode disposed on a circuit board; a through hole is provided on the circuit board corresponding to where the light emitting diode is located; a heat sink is disposed to the through hole; the heat sink is secured to the circuit board by means of the through hole to directly contact the light emitting diode; and the heat generated from the light emitting diode in operation is effectively dissipated by the heat sink.

Abstract: A heat-sink module of light-emitting diode comprises a circuit board, at least a light-emitting diode, at least a heat-conducting layer, and a heat-sink block, wherein the circuit board has a through hole formed thereon, and the light-emitting diode is mounted across over the through hole of the circuit board. In addition, the heat-conducting layer is mounted under the light-emitting diode. The heat-sink block is coupled with the heat-conducting layer via the through hole of the circuit board. As a result, the heat-dissipating efficiency of the light-emitting diode can be improved.

Abstract: An optical filter 17 is attached to the display screen surface of a flat display panel 3 of a flat display apparatus. The optical filter 17 is constituted of a lamination of an electromagnetic-wave blocking sheet 17A, an infrared-radiation absorbing and color-tone correcting sheet 17B and an ambient light antireflective sheet 17C.

Abstract: A discharge tube 10 formed by forming an airtight envelope 16 by hermetically sealing openings at both ends of a case member 12 made of an insulating material opened at both ends with a pair of cap members 14, 14 that double a discharge electrode, forming a predetermined discharge gap 22 between discharge electrode portions 18, 18 of the cap members 14, 14, forming on an inner wall surface 24 of the case members 12 a plurality of linear triggering discharge films 28 of which both ends are disposed separated by a small discharge gap 26 opposite to the cap members 14, 14 that double a discharge electrode, forming on a surface of the discharge electrode portion 18 a film 30 containing an alkali iodide, and encapsulating a discharge gas containing Kr (krypton) in the airtight envelope 16.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a fluorescent substance containing glass sheet which is suppressed attenuation of intensity of wavelength converted light emitted by a sulfide fluorescent substance, able to increase a life of the light emitting device, and does not bring about environmental pollution by lead, its manufacturing method and a light-emitting device using this. A fluorescent substance containing glass sheet formed by mixing an oxide-coated fluorescent substance particle with glass powder that does not substantially include lead, and sintering them, the oxide-coated fluorescent substance particle having been produced by coating a surface of a sulfide fluorescent substance particle, which is excited by light emission from a light-emitting element and which emits wavelength converted light, with an oxide, wherein attenuation of intensity of said wavelength converted light emitted by said sulfide fluorescent substance particle is suppressed by a forming process.

Abstract: In the case of a flat panel display having an vacuum envelope in which electron sources are formed in a matrix, it is difficult to control the distance between the front substrate and the rear substrate in and around the effective screen area. Spacers are arranged both in and around the effective display area 6. Inner spacers 12 are arranged in the effective display area 6 while outer spacers 13 are arranged around the effective display area 6. The distance between the front substrate 2 and the front substrate 1 in the peripheral area is controlled by the outer spacers 13. This can solve various problems including the electrification of spacers 12 which may occur if the distance between the front substrate 2 and the front substrate 1 is not uniform.

Abstract: A light-emissive device includes a substrate having a first electrode formed on the substrate. A colloidal light-emitting layer comprising inorganic, light-emissive particles is formed over the first electrode. A second electrode is formed over the light-emitting layer. At least one of the first and second electrodes is transparent. The transparent electrode preferably has a refractive index substantially equal to or greater than the refractive index of the colloidal light-emitting layer. Finally, a light-scattering layer is formed on a side of the transparent electrode opposite the colloidal light-emitting layer.

Abstract: A PDP includes a guide partition (127) that extends substantially along a center line F between a pair of first partitions (125) at a position spaced apart from an end of the nearest first partition (125) by a distance H. In a phosphor forming step, a phosphor paste is initially applied on the guide partition (127) by a nozzle (200), which has been located above the guide partition (127). Then, the nozzle (200) is moved to provide a phosphor layer whose end is formed on the guide partition (127).

Abstract: Disclosed is an organic light emitting display and a method for manufacturing the same capable of preventing external moisture or oxygen from being penetrated into an organic light emitting diode. In particular, disclosed is an organic light emitting display comprising an organic light emitting diode array comprising a light emitting diode formed over a substrate and an organic emission layer between a first electrode and a second electrode, a sealing cover comprising at least one organic film and at least one inorganic film, and a sealing material formed along an edge of the sealing cover for sealing a boundary of the substrate and the sealing cover and a boundary of the organic film and the inorganic film of the sealing cover.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescence element having at least a light-emitting layer between a pair of electrodes, wherein the light-emitting layer is divided into at least 3 unit light emitting layers in the thickness direction thereof, and at least 2 intermediate layers containing an electron-blocking material between the divided light emitting layers, wherein an electron-blocking capacity of the intermediate layer is highest in the intermediate layer disposed closer to the anode, and lowest in the intermediate layer disposed closer to the cathode. An organic EL element having high external quantum efficiency and driving durability is provided.

Abstract: An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the OLED device includes a plurality of ball-shaped spacers formed over a pixel defining layer. At least one embodiment can prevent the pixel defining layer from being damaged due to unevenness of a deposition mask. Also, one embodiment of the invention does not require a patterning process for forming a spacer.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to solve the problem of losing a part of the incident light due to the irregular reflection of the incident light if a layer containing fine particles is formed by coating for the purpose of roughing when providing measures to prevent the reflection of the light at the surface of the color filter layer or at the surface of the color conversion layer inside a display, or a problem of difficulty in management of the paint for obtaining a certain roughened surface or a problem of increase of the number of processes to prevent the reflection when preventing the reflection by laminating plural layers of different refractive indices.

Abstract: A surface luminous body including at least a surface luminous element arid a light regulating sheet, wherein the light regulating sheet includes a plurality of projections on at least one side, the ends of the projections are each in contact with the light outgoing surface of the surface light-emitting element via an adhesion layer, and a portion of the end of the projection is embedded in the adhesion layer, and wherein the adhesion layer includes a first pressure-sensitive adhesion layer A in contact with the surface luminous element, at least one resin layer, and a second pressure-sensitive adhesion layer B in contact with the light regulating sheet and a prism embedding load Fa of a pressure-sensitive adhesive used for the pressure-sensitive adhesion layer A, and a prism embedding load Fb of a pressure-sensitive adhesive used for the pressure-sensitive adhesion layer B are in a relationship of Fb/Fa?1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light source apparatus with a structure that enables the brightness of a gas discharge tube to be stabilized and facilitates gas discharge tube maintenance work. The light source apparatus has a gas discharge tube, a lamp container housing the gas discharge tube, and a base on which the lamp container is fixed. The gas discharge tube is fixed via a heat insulating member to a portion of an outer shell of the lamp container, and the heat insulating member functions to reduce heat transfer between the lamp container and the gas discharge tube to reduce the influence of temperature change, outside the lamp container, on the gas discharge tube.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing a workpiece in a plasma reactor chamber. The method includes coupling, to a plasma in the chamber, power of an RF frequency via a ceiling electrode and coupling, to the plasma, power of at least approximately the same RF frequency via a workpiece support electrode. The method also includes providing an edge ground return path. The method further includes adjusting the proportion between (a) current flow between said electrodes and (b) current flow to the edge ground return path from said electrodes, to control plasma ion density distribution uniformity over the workpiece.

Abstract: The object of an arrangement and a method for generating extreme ultraviolet radiation by an electrically operated gas discharge is to improve the adjustment of the layer thickness and, in particular, to prevent an uncontrolled accumulation of the metal layer to be applied to the rotary electrodes during pauses in the pulse operation for generating radiation when, e.g., liquid flows through these rotary electrodes for efficient cooling. In this connection, the rotating speed of the rotary electrodes can be increased in particular until there is always a freshly coated surface region of the electrodes in the discharge area at repetition frequencies of several kilohertz. An edge area to be coated on at least one electrode has at least one receiving area which extends in a closed circumference along the electrode edge on the electrode surface and which is formed so as to be wetting for the molten metal.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a vacuum container, a processing chamber arranged in the vacuum container and supplied with a processing gas, a holding electrode arranged in the processing chamber for holding a sample to be processed, on the upper surface thereof, an electric field supply unit for supplying an electric field and a magnetic field supply unit for supplying a magnetic field to form the plasma in the space above the holding electrode in the processing chamber, and a grounded wall member making up the inner wall, substantially in the shape of a truncated cone, of the processing chamber above the holding electrode.

Abstract: A device for remediation of gaseous or aerosol streams includes an elongated duct, at least one high potential electrode and at least one low potential electrode. The elongated duct defines a bore through which axially flows a gaseous or aerosol stream which is treated by the device to remove pollutants or particulates therefrom. A shaft rotatable within the bore of the duct includes a plurality of pins extending radially therefrom, the shaft and the pins constituting the high potential electrode. The duct may similarly include a plurality of pins extending radially into the interior bore of the duct, whereby the duct and the pins constitute the low potential electrode. The shaft is rotated by a motor relative to the duct, or the duct and shaft may be rotated together by the motor. The high and low potential electrodes are connected to a high voltage power source to effect a corona discharge between the high and low potential electrodes.

Abstract: A flashlight has a body containing control circuitry, with a lamp connected to the body and to the control circuitry. A photodetector is connected to the body and the control circuitry, and faces the lamp to sense an operating condition of the lamp. The control circuitry operates the lamp in a start up mode until signaled by the photodetector that the lamp is properly operating. After this, the lamp is operated in a normal mode. The flashlight may have a switch with a button that moves through a range of positions. The switch may have several contact elements, and the button may have an actuator registered with each of the contact elements. The actuators may be of different heights, to provide a sequence of switch operation. Some of the actuators may be movable to allow the button to be actuated further after an initial contact is made.

Abstract: In a plasma display device, a second terminal of a first transistor, whose first terminal is connected to an electrode, is connected to a power source for supplying a first voltage. A first driver is adapted to drive the first transistor to change the voltage of the electrode, and a second driver adapted to sustain the voltage of the electrode substantially at a second voltage differing from the first voltage by intercepting a path between the first transistor and the power source when the voltage of the electrode is changed into the second voltage in a first period, and to change the voltage of the electrode substantially back to the first voltage in a second period. In this way, it is possible to supply two or more voltages having a different voltage level by one power source.

Abstract: A twinkling light string includes an AC plug configured to connect to an AC power supply and an AC plug receiver is configured to extend the twinkling light string by receiving another AC plug. A set of light branches including one light branch or a plurality of light branches connected in parallel, each of the light branches including a plurality of LED light bulbs connected in series, at least one of the LED light bulbs including two light emitting diodes, the two light emitting diodes are configured to twinkle under control of oscillating circuitry. Rectifying circuitry is located between the AC plug and the set of light branches. The rectifying circuitry is configured to convert inputted alternating current to direct current and is configured to power the light branches or a plurality of light branches connected in parallel by the direct current.

Abstract: A lighting string controller includes a power supply circuit that converts an alternate current (AC) input into a direct current (DC) output and includes an impedance buck circuit for expanding the applicable voltage range of the AC input and supplying a stable DC power to a display control circuit, a drive circuit and at least one lighting string. The display control circuit operates the lighting string through the drive circuit and the display control circuit controls time period within which the lighting string is in full lighting condition to allow a lighting string that is of a high power consumption to fully light in a short period of time. The display control circuit also functions to control operation modes of the lighting string, including lighting ON/OFF, interrupted lighting, gradually brightening/dimming, cyclic lighting, and alternating loop flashing, and can be controlled by a control switch or a remote control to switch among the operation modes.

Abstract: A circuit includes an input and an output, and an electronic light generator drive portion that is coupled to the input and drives the output. In one configuration, the circuit includes a further portion that is coupled to the input and that tunes a resonance at the input to a first frequency, the further portion having an additional portion with a resonance that is tuned to a second frequency different from the first frequency, and that effects damping of the first frequency at the input. In a different configuration, the drive portion includes an electronic switch coupled to the output of the circuit, and a further portion coupled to the input and having a phase tracking portion, the phase tracking portion tracking a phase of a signal at the input and producing a control signal that is used to control the electronic switch.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled electronic ballast for lighting equipment is described wherein light level control is performed by varying the power provided to the light. Lighting power is adjusted by driving the lamp through a resonant circuit with a variable frequency power signal. The programmable microprocessor controls overall operation including preheating, ignition, and shutdown.

Abstract: An exemplary backlight control circuit (200) includes at least one load circuit (210), a pulse width modulation integrated circuit (250), and a micro controller (260). The micro controller includes an output terminal and a plurality of analog to digital input terminals. The output terminal outputs a high level signal when the analog to digital input terminals all receive high level signals, and the output terminal outputs a low level signal when any one of the analog to digital input terminals receives a low level signal. The micro controller feeds operating states of the at least one load circuit back to the pulse width modulation integrated circuit.

Abstract: Even if an input voltage is higher than an output voltage, the luminance of an LED is so controlled as to be held constant. When an input voltage Vin becomes higher than an output voltage Vout due to a variation in a threshold voltage Vf of an LED (21) so that an LED drive circuit does not conduct a step-up operation, the operation of the LED drive circuit switches from a step-up type switching regulator operation to a voltage regulator operation. As a result, the LED drive circuit normally operates.

Abstract: An intelligent light source converts color and luminous flux data to luminous flux levels of individual color sources and automatically compensates for variations in operating conditions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods of driving an electroluminescent lamp. In one embodiment, the electroluminescent lamp is driven to a first threshold during a first time period and then driven to successive voltages between the threshold and a maximum voltage during successive time. This method of driving the lamp waveshapes the lamp voltage signal. In one example, the thresholds are set to minimize audible noise from the electroluminescent lamp due to the piezoelectric effect.

Abstract: An adaptive digital ramp current control system comprises a digital current ramp controller configured to digitally ramp a current level supplied to at least one light emitting diode (LED) according to a predetermined ramp profile, the ramp profile comprising at least one intermediate current level step between a minimum current level and a maximum current level.

Abstract: A driver circuit is designed employing a current sensing circuit adapted to sense driving current being supplied to one or more light emitting devices. The driver circuit additionally employs a pulse width modulation circuit adapted to modulate a pulse width of a control signal based at least in part on an output of the current sensing circuit, the control signal being employed to adjust the driving current being supplied to the one or more light emitting devices. The driver circuit additionally employs a buck converter adapted to switch the driving current being supplied to the one or more light emitting devices.

Abstract: An LED driver circuit that sinks pure DC current through LEDs. According to the invention, a constant current sink circuit is coupled to a full bridge rectifier. The full bridge rectifier includes at least a first bridge arm, a second bridge arm, a third bridge arm and a fourth bridge arm. The first bridge arm and the fourth bridge arm are connected in parallel with the third bridge arm and the second bridge arm in opposite directions, respectively. The connection of the first bridge arm and the third bridge arm and the connection of the second bridge arm and the fourth bridge arm are connected in series. Each of the bridge arms may consist of at least one LED. The constant current sink circuit is used for sinking pure DC current. The LEDs can be driven by pure constant current and can provide desired luminance.

Abstract: A method is employed to eliminate undesired velocity reversal in a motion profile. A start speed, a start acceleration, a speed limit, an acceleration limit, a deceleration limit, an acceleration jerk limit, and a deceleration jerk limit are programmed for the motion profile. A critical jerk value needed to avoid velocity reversal associated with the motion profile is calculated. The critical jerk value is compared to the programmed deceleration jerk limit. The larger of the critical jerk value and the programmed deceleration jerk limit is set as a computed maximum deceleration jerk limit for use with the motion profile. In this manner, the computed maximum deceleration jerk limit will never be lower than the critical jerk and undesired velocity reversal is eliminated.

Abstract: A method is for estimating an angular position of a rotor of a motor having position sensors along the circumference of a stator and generating digital signals that switch each time the rotor crosses certain angular positions. The method includes storing rotor angular positions at every digital signal switching, and determining for each rotor revolution a time interval elapsed between a current and a precedent switching edge of the signal generated. The method also includes estimating the angular position during a current rotor revolution by identifying which position sensor generated the last detected switching edge. The corresponding angular position and the time interval elapsed between two consecutive rotor crossings, through a same angular position, correspond to a sum between the angular position and a product between a fraction of the time interval elapsed from the corresponding precedent switching edge multiplied by 360° and a number of polar pairs.

Abstract: Disk drive spindle jitter is comprised of electrical noise, error due to pair pole asymmetry, and random disk speed variances. Error caused by pair pole asymmetry can be identified and compensated for by detecting over a single rotation of a rotor a plurality of zero cross signals. These signals can be statistically analyzed over a period of a plurality of revolutions of the rotor so as to identify the systematic error caused by pair poles. Once identified, this pair pole error can be used to modify zero cross signals and/or modify commutation signal driving the disk so as to arrive at a more accurate determination of disk speed and to precisely control the speed of the disk.

Abstract: A brushless direct current (BLDC) motor having a simulated tapped-winding input. The BLDC motor includes a stator/rotor assembly having a stator and a rotor. The BLDC motor has a common input and a plurality of power inputs. Each power input corresponds to an operating parameter. The BLDC motor receives an AC voltage across the common input and one of the power inputs and operates the stator/rotor assembly according to an operating parameter corresponding to the power input receiving power.

Abstract: A low noise and energy saving air vacuum cleaner by detecting the operation status of the cleaner to control the size of the electricity inputted to an air pump drive motor, or exercise the control of power delivery or power cut off; normal rated voltage being inputted when the cleaner is in normal working status; or the power outputted to the air pump drive motor being reduced or cut off when the cleaning tool of the cleaner clears away from its work area to render the cleaner in full load operation status as were a blower to increase both noise level and power consumption, or when the cleaning tool is blocked due to excessive packing against the work area for reduced noise level and energy saving.

Abstract: A movable barrier operator having a motor controller (10) and motor (11) that control selective movement of a movable barrier (12) also has an obstacle detector (14) that utilizes an automatically determined excess force threshold value to permit reliable detection of an obstacle under a wide variety of operational circumstances, including changing physical circumstances, aging components, temperature variations, and motor runtime. In a preferred embodiment, a characteristic force value for the system is frequently updated as a function of actual measured force requirements (and further compensated, pursuant to various embodiments, with respect to other conditions such as temperature and motor runtime). This characteristic force value is then utilized to determine the excess force threshold value.

Abstract: A conveyer 1 for transporting a box and a conveyer 2 for transporting a bottle are driven along a follow-up target axis and a follow-up axis respectively. The follow-up axis is accelerated from a synchronization start position, and when the follow-up axis velocity catches up with the conveyer 1, the follow-up axis performs the constant velocity operation. An advanced operation, performed by an asynchronous axis (moving the bottle closer to the box), is started before synchronization completes, and is completed when synchronization completes, then immediately an operation by a synchronous axis (follow-up target axis or follow-up axis) is started (insertion operation). The point of time when the advanced operation is started is determined by processing of the numerical controller, as a point of time when the time required for the follow-up axis in the current status to reach the synchronization completion status becomes the same as the time required for the advanced operation (preset).

Abstract: The control apparatus 10 of a servo motor of the present invention has a position control unit 11 controlling the position of a servo motor 33, a speed control unit 12 controlling a speed of the servo motor 33, a distributing unit 13 dividing the speed command output by the position control unit 11 into a filtered part Vf which is filtered to suppress vibration and a nonfiltered part Vnf, a filtering unit 14 receiving as input the filtered part Vf and filtering and outputting the filtered part Vf, and an adder unit 15 adding the filtered part Vf filtered by the filtering unit 14 and the nonfiltered part Vnf and outputting the result to the speed control unit 12.

Abstract: A positioning device includes an object table, a sub-system for processing an object to be placed on the object table, a drive unit for displacing the object table relative to the sub-system, and a measuring system for measuring a position of the object table relative to the sub-system. The drive unit includes a stationary part which is fastened to a first frame of the positioning device, while the measuring system includes a stationary part and a movable part which is fastened to the object table for cooperation with the stationary part of the measuring system. The stationary part of the measuring system is fastened to a second frame of the positioning device which is dynamically isolated from the first frame.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an AC rotary machine, including first voltage command calculation means for calculating first voltage commands from current commands, an angular frequency, and constant set values of the AC rotary machine, second voltage command calculation means for calculating second voltage commands on the basis of difference currents between the current commands and current detection values, so that the difference currents may converge into zero, third voltage command calculation means for calculating third voltage commands by adding the first voltage commands and the second voltage commands, voltage application means for applying voltages to the AC rotary machine on the basis of the third voltage commands, and constant measurement means for calculating the constant set values on the basis of the second voltage commands.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for controlling power factor in motor drives having a switching rectifier providing a DC link current to an inverter in which the rectifier gain is increased to provide additional DC link current to correct the drive power factor based on current drawn by capacitors of the AC drive power input, and the inverter gain is decreased by introducing bypass states in the inverter switching control scheme or by reducing the motor flux to accommodate the increased DC link current.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for phase current detection used for driving a motor by supplying outputs from a pulse width modulation (PWM) converter to the motor. One method presented provides detecting a DC link current and a vector pattern, determining whether a voltage vector lengths exceeds a predetermined value, and adjusting the voltage vector by adding a positive or reversed voltage based upon the above determination and an integrated error value.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a wireless transmission device includes: a transmitter that transmits a signal to an external device; an internal rechargeable battery that supplies a power to the transmitter; a connector to which an external rechargeable battery inserted from outside is connected; and a controller that controls the internal rechargeable battery and the external rechargeable battery so that the external rechargeable battery recharges the internal rechargeable battery when the external rechargeable battery is connected to the connector, wherein the external rechargeable battery is charged when the transmitter transmits the signal to the external device.

Abstract: A system for charging an electric storage battery in an electric vehicle includes a first converter electrically connectable to a first source of AC electric power, for converting AC from the first power source to a first DC output, a second converter electrically connectable to a second source of AC electric power that is out of phase relative to the first AC power source, for converting AC from the second power source to a second DC output, and a regulator electrically coupled to the first DC output, the second DC output and the battery, for producing and charging the battery with a third DC output having a higher voltage than the voltage of the first and the second DC outputs.